Publication: defence THINK Issued: Date: 2005-12-12 Reporter: Leon Engelbrecht Reporter: Reporter:

Denel a Step Closer to Selling Artillery Technology in the US, Canada

 

Publication 

defence THINK!
Date 2005-12-12

Reporter

Leon Engelbrecht

 

South Africa's Denel group is a step closer to selling its peerless 105mm artillery technology to the US and Canada. This is after the company's unmatched Light Experimental Ordnance -- a barrel that bests a 155mm L39 and ammunition that does the same with most 155mm fare -- performed well during a demonstration at the US Army Field Artillery Centre at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
       
The LEO is mounted in a proprietary Denel turret fitted to Stryker (LAV III) hull built by Denel's US partner, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). Most senior US artillery decision makers, including the centre's new commandant, Maj Gen Dave C Ralston, attended the demonstration on November 15 and 16, 2005. "This programme started with a teaming agreement in July 2003 with GDLS to customise the Denel Land Systems Light Experimental Ordnance (LEO) 105mm artillery ballistic system for various requirements in the USA and Canadian Armies, the US Marine Corps and other potential customers," explained Denel Land Systems executive manager Bastiaan Verhoek. "With this demonstration Denel and GDLS proved the success of the prototype self propelled (SP) 105mm artillery system and Denel's pre-formed fragmentation ammunition." One major challenge facing the joint Denel-GDLS team in the run-up to the  demonstration was integrating the system with the US Army's Inertial Navigation Unit and Towed Artillery Digitised Fire Control System.
  
Denel's newly developed Uni-Modular artillery Charge System for 105mm guns proved equally successful during the Fort Sill demonstration -- as did the company's pre-formed fragmentation projectile that was subjected to a comparative test with natural fragmentation ammunition. Although non-US military personnel were not allowed to be present at this arena test, the results were most impressive, according to unofficial information, Denel said. "It would seem that Denel's pre-formed fragmentation ammunition showed its terminal effect to be two and a half times that of the natural fragmentation ammunition." According to Verhoek, this project resulted from the US Army's stated requirement for an indirect fire support capability for its Interim Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, for which the US House of Representatives passed a bill during May 2003.
  
Denel Land Systems Lyttelton built a turret around its 105mm LEO system, which was integrated on the Stryker in Canada during February 2004. The system was then formally launched at the AUSA Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in March 2004 and subsequently tested at a facility on the Eglin Air Force Base, USA. After a demonstration at the US Army Field Artillery Centre at Fort Sill in April 2004, the system was exhibited at several exhibitions and conferences in the US and Canada. "Since embarking on this project only some two year's ago, we have come full-circle in showing the superior artillery capability residing in Denel and its US partner," Verhoek said. "I'm proud of the Denel Land Systems team, supported by two South African Army officers, who contributed significantly to a demonstration that undoubtedly exceeded expectations."

With acknowledgements to Leon Engelbrecht and defence THINK!.


If one likes technology that delivers ordnance, this is a much happier story than Denel's recent standard fare of stories of billion-plus losses and bribery of third world procurement decision-makers.

Well done Denel Land Systems and the LEO joint project team.

Successful Patrol Corvette Sea-Borne Firing Trials

There is also a happier tale to tell regarding the Valour-class corvettes, again if one likes technology that delivers ordnance. During sea-borne firing trials conducted on SAS Amatola stationed 20 km offshore at Armscor's Overberg Test Range during the last few weeks, all three of Denel Kentron's Umkhonto vertically launched surface-to-air test missiles performed perfectly. The first two rounds were telemetry rounds, the second of which missed the Skua high-speed target drone *1 by some 5 metres (the Skua being an emulation of a typical air-launched anti-ship threat missile). The third round was a full fuzed warhead which engaged and destroyed its Skua target drone. No residue of missile launch was left on the missile deck of the vessel, indicating pyrotechically correct and safe launch. Furthermore the test launches were conducted in fairly rough sea conditions with significant deck roll and pitch, which indicates a correct integration of the missile launch system into the combat suite including correct incorporation of roll and pitch data from the Inertial Navigation System (INS) via the Navigation Distribution System (NDS) designed and developed by CCII Systems (Pty) Ltd.

Well done Denel Kentron and the Corvette Joint Project Team.

Again, this is a much happier story than Thales's recent standard fare of stories of shaky billion-plus deals and bribery of third world procurement decision-makers and politicians.

*1  Skua High-Speed Aerial Target

Named after a marine bird of prey, Denel Kentron's Skua is a high-speed target drone system that simulates transonic aircraft and missile attacks to test and qualify air-defence systems. A flexible payload gives optimal configuration to meet all training and evaluation needs. Skua has been deployed and operated successfully since 1992 and is used as a target service by leading air forces and manufacturers of guided-missile systems.

Refer also :
http://www.global-defence.com/2003/kentron_03.htm